In an effort to end discriminatory treatment African-Americans and other minorities, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) have announced a new partnership to work together to promote fair housing in minority communities. In Fiscal Year 2010, 27.8 percent (2,820) of the 10,157 fair housing complaints HUD and its fair housing partner agencies received alleged race discrimination against blacks. At the same time, a recent HUD report showed that the nation’s “worst case housing needs” increased by 3.2 percentage points among African-American families.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between HUD and NAREB will help end discrimination by informing consumers in African-American and other minority communities and public and private industry members about their fair housing rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.
“This partnership advances HUD’s and NAREB’s joint vision and commitment to end housing discrimination,” said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO). “We have turned to the nation’s oldest minority real estate trade association to bring our message of fair housing education and enforcement to neighborhoods across America. With NAREB, we also promote industry compliance and a better consumer service.”
Under the MOU, HUD and NAREB will conduct joint seminars, workshops, and forums on ways to identify unlawful sales, rental and lending and related government contracting discrimination. Additionally, they will work together to educate people in all communities about their fair housing and related government contracting rights and avenues available to them should they experience discrimination. Furthermore, NAREB will emphasize the importance of fair housing and equal opportunity to real estate professionals as well as work with other organizations and institutions in African American communities, including faith-based groups, government agencies.
"NAREB has fought the battle over the last 64 years to make sure that people of all colors have access to fair and equal opportunities in housing, which we believe is in the forefront of what America represents,” said Julius Cartwright, president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB). “We are extremely proud to partner with and have the additional reinforcement of HUD on this very important initiative designed to preserve and stabilize minority neighborhoods and communities across the United States."
NAREB is one of the oldest minority real estate trade associations in America, founded to create equal housing and government contracting opportunities for every resident of the nation, regardless of race, creed, or color. Its 18,000 members, 12 regional offices, and 92 chapters work to help stabilize the nation’s housing and urban community real estate markets, expand consumer protections, and stop the spiral of urban decay and foreclosure-related losses in minority communities.
